Abu Ghraib “ringleader” found guilty
FORT HOOD, Texas (Reuters) – A military jury has found U.S. soldier Charles Graner guilty of abusing Iraqi prisoners at Abu Ghraib prison in a scandal that badly damaged America’s worldwide reputation following the invasion of Iraq.
A 10-member military jury found Graner, 36, a former civilian prison guard, guilty on 10 charges, many of which were documented by photographs of sexual humiliation of naked male prisoners that shocked the world after they were leaked last year.
Graner stood to attention and looked straight ahead without any visible reaction as the verdict was read on Friday. He held his hands tightly clenched.
Because the jury altered one count to a lesser charge of assault, rather than use of force likely to produce death or grievous bodily harm, his maximum sentence was lessened to 15 years from a possible 17 and a half years, a prosecution spokesman said.
Defence attorneys said Graner himself was expected to testify when the sentencing phase of the trial resumes on Saturday…
What they did was disgusting beyond belief, the fact that they could do this is so horrifying – this is probably the only time that ‘death row’ could be useful! Shame the guy only gets 15 years!!
